Monday, June 8, 2015

For Anyone Who Still Doubts, Miracles Do Still Happen!

Even the most die-hard racing fans were starting to lose hope. It had been thirty-seven years since there had been a Triple Crown winner, and with each passing year, there was talk that there might never be another. Here we were, over a decade into the twenty-first century with no equine rock star. A few had come close: last year's almost-winner, California Chrome and his unusual band of owners, who had dubbed themselves the Dumbass Partners...Smarty Jones...I'll Have Another...Funny Cide...War Emblem...Big Brown. Only twelve horses in the history of the Triple Crown have won all three races. Forty-seven have won the first two races, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. Twenty-three went on, only to fail in the Belmont Stakes.

And then came American Pharoah, the quirky horse with the misspelled name (somebody alert the Grammar Nazis!) and the short tail (due to a bite from a stablemate), proving it can still be done and inspiring the dreams of owners, trainers, jockeys and racing fans everywhere. Dreams can and do still come true!

PS My novel Angels at Midnight is on sale this week at Amazon. Check out the Countdown Deal, if you haven't already read it!

I don't play the horses all the time...only when I have that strong gut feeling about the horse. And then I usually bet big. I've played long shots--which pay off big time when they win. (I once bet on one with 30-1 odds!)

I watched a clip the other day where ESPN or some sports outfit put American Pharoah's race along side Secretariat''s. Fun stuff. It seemed like Secretariat crossed the finish line way before American Pharoah, although in reality if was just a bit over three seconds sooner. I was just 19 and living in Guam when Secretariat won the Triple Crown. I loved watching it and have loved horse racing every since.

Secretariat won by 31 lengths, which was really impressive--and he was big for a thoroughbred. American Pharoah won by 5 1/2 lengths. He came very close to Secretariat's record.

When Secretariat died, he was given an honor rare for a horse. He was buried intact. Thoroughbreds traditionally have only the head, heart and hooves buried. The average heart weighs around 7 pounds--his was estimated at 22 pounds. It was described as a big, perfect engine.